Tree-Fermented Figs

tyler_laJuly 11, 2010

Today was a particularly bad day for the figs here, its already rained twice, and at least a few dozen pounds of them have split... But, on the other hand...

Today I ate my first Hardy Chicagos and an LSU Gold fig. Delicious! I'm more partial to this years Chicagos... Celeste has come in last this year, I'm afraid. Still anxiously waiting for Mission, Smith, Hunt, LSU Purple, O'Rourke, Tyger, Honey, Native Black, and a quite few others to ripen...

Now, the question I have: Has anyone ever attempted to eat a bug-free, fermented fig that is still on the tree? I found one today, and I didn't even realize it until I had it up to my nose (it wasn't wrinkled or deformed). I tasted it... and I am sorely, sorely tempted to make fig wine this year. (We make orange wine from the orchard here, and I'm assuming I could do it the same way, seeing how easily these figs fermented.)

Even with all the fig trees I have, I can't seem to keep any around from which to make fig wine. I just eat them fresh, every last one. Sorry to hear about the rain. It hasn't rained here in weeks. I asked how to make elderberry wine on the fruit and orchard forum, also on gardenweb and got a lot of good responses.

Tyler, I've never tasted fig wine but I do know that it is made. I remember reading about someone winning first place with their fig wine at some sort of wine event. I've also seen it advertised before.

Yes the rain has been bad until this past week. The heat and dry have let my little Celeste give me some great figs. But I did notice a lot of them little sour beetles flying around the tree this morning. If we get another round of rain like last week I'm afraid the rest of the crop will sour.
"gene"

They are about the same color brown as a fig and as small as a small ant, kinda look like a miniature June bug. It easier to see them by looking up and seeing them against the sky or seeing them walking around on an overripe fig.
"gene"

A few days ago I picked figs from my mother's tree that were dripping with tree-fermented figs. They are magnificent. Now that I can identify the taste, I am even more anxious to learning how to make fig wine. I picked more today. I hope you have already started making figs into wine. I came across your notes and felt the need to reply. Maybe I am looking for a cheering section. I, also, have wanted to do this for a long time. Figs are almost out of season here. I am only getting a small amount out of my hard work in tree climbing. My mom has one tree that the whole community feeds on. No one regularly picked her figs until I moved back home two years ago. Now they all want a piece of the fruit. It is hard to share, but you know, neighborly expectations. After all, they really are good people.